The last few BLOGS we have been looking at a sermon on Regeneration from John 1:12-13 by a man named Asahel Nettleton. We will continue with the following quote:
“There is only one way left for a creature dead in trespasses and sins to rise to life. This is by the power of God which quickens him-creates him anew. Observe in what language sacred writers have chosen to communicate their ideas on this subject: born of God; begotten of God; quickened; or made alive from the dead; created anew. If it be said that this is figurative language, I agree to it, but if there be any correctness in the figures, the work of regeneration must be the commencement of a new spiritual existence. On any other grounds the language of the Scriptures is of all books the most fancied, unmeaning, and obscure.”
If we truly believe that sinners are dead in trespasses and sins, then our evangelism must take that into account. It matters little what a person’s professed theological persuasion or confessional statement is, if a person does not take this into account in evangelism then that person evangelizes more like Pelagius than those who have who were Reformed from the Reformation until Finney. It is to “Pelagian-ize” rather than to evangelize. If we believe that it is all up to the free-will of the sinner rather than the power of the living God to make sinners alive and actually make them a new creation, then we are those who try to persuade sinners rather than to point them to the living God who alone can make them alive. That means we are leaving sinners with hope in themselves rather than hope in the living God. The terms of Scripture regarding the new birth are quite clear and without any equivocation. Sinners must be born and begotten of God, not begotten of their own choice. Sinners must be quickened and made alive from the dead by the power and life of God, not from their own abilities. Sinners must be a new creation which God alone can do rather than do something in their own power.
“After all there must be a new creation,–the dead must be quickened-believers must be born of God. The same energy which brought Christ from the dead-the exceeding great power of the living God must perform the work…Indeed, my friends, where else can we look for the origin of such a change as makes believers pass from death to life but the omnipotence of the divine Spirit? Is it our understanding which accomplishes this change? But our understanding is darkened… Is it our will?… Our wills are perverse and rebellious. Is it our strength? Christ died for the ungodly who are without strength. We are not sufficient of ourselves to think a good thought. Is it our merits? We merit nothing but utter rejection. Is it the ministers of God who persuade us? Paul may plant and Apollos water, but God gives the increase”
Scripture teaches us that the same energy that brought Christ from the dead must raise the sinner from the dead (Ephesians 1:15-2:10). Do we see anything in Scripture which teaches us that man can raise himself from the dead? Do we see anything in Scripture that teaches us to look for the origin of change from anyone other than God Himself? Does Scripture tell us to look to ourselves for any help at all or does it teach us to look to God alone for help and power? Follow the thought of Nettleton here and ask yourself if he or the Arminian teaching is correct on this. If what is needed is persuasion, then what is it that is to be persuaded? It will be argued that we must persuade the understanding of the sinner. But how can you persuade the understanding of one that is in complete spiritual darkness? Well, one might say, we must convince them to make a choice. What is a choice but an act of the will? We must also ask what is the will apart from the understanding? Is the will free enough to be free from a nature that is dead in sins and trespasses? Well, one might say that we have enough strength to just open and receive. Nettleton points out Scripture which tells us that Christ died for those without strength. Another might say that our little choice has merit (whether stated or implied) and God works without that. But Scripture tells us that even our righteous works are as filthy rags. What is the sinner left with to make a choice that will save him or her? The sinner is left with nothing in himself to make a choice and needs to be made a new creation by the work of God and to be given divine life by God. That is where evangelism should leave the sinner.
God Loves... Himself 
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